Latest news with #APERC
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
AP HC seeks SECI affidavit on solar power rates amid row over AP's 7,000 MW deal
VIJAYAWADA: The High Court on Wednesday directed the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to submit a detailed affidavit clarifying the rates at which it supplied solar power to other States at the time the Andhra Pradesh government agreed to purchase 7,000 MW of solar power at Rs 2.49 per unit. The court also instructed SECI to provide details of orders issued by the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) in this regard. Further hearing was adjourned to September 3. The directive came during the hearing of public interest litigations (PILs) filed separately by TDP leader and current Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav and CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna. The petitioners challenged the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission's (CERC) approval for the State's power distribution companies to purchase 7,000 MW of solar power from SECI at Rs 2.49 per unit. Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas, representing the State government, informed the court that APERC had approved the purchase of solar power at a finalised rate of Rs 2.42 per unit, following the court's authorisation. He argued that the petitioners could challenge the rate if they had objections. The SECI's counsel stated that the agreement with Andhra Pradesh was for supplying 7,000 MW at Rs 2.42 per unit, while other States were supplied power at rates ranging from Rs 2.01 to Rs 2.52 per unit. The petitioners' counsel argued that Andhra Pradesh's agreement to purchase solar power at Rs 2.49 per unit was higher than the rate offered to Gujarat, where SECI supplied power at Rs 1.99 per unit.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Disclose solar power price supplied to other states, HC tells SECI
Vijayawada: The high court on Wednesday directed Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to disclose the price of solar power at which it was supplying to other states, at the time it entered into an agreement to supply power to Andhra Pradesh at Rs 2.49 per unit. The court also directed to place the orders of Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) approving the unit price quoted by SECI. CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna and then TDP MLA and present finance minister Payyavula Keshav filed separate PILs in the high court challenging the agreement made by the then YSRCP govt with SECI for supply of 7,000 MW of solar power at Rs 2.49 per unit. The counsel for the petitioner argued that SECI made an agreement to supply solar power at Rs 2.49 per unit with AP, but the same SECI made an agreement with Gujarat govt for supply of solar power at Rs 1.99 per unit. The counsel further said that the power purchase price should be derived through tender route according to the Electricity Act but it was not followed while entering into an agreement with SECI. Arguing on behalf of the state govt, advocate general Dammalapati Srinivas said the high court has allowed APERC to decide the unit price and it has approved the price quoted by SECI. The petitioners can challenge the decision of APERC if they have any grievances on the same. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like For all your EV needs ScottishPower Learn More Undo The counsel for SECI submitted that the per unit price of solar power used to be anywhere between Rs 2.52 and Rs 2.61 at the time when it entered an agreement with AP. The unit price offered to AP was the lowest at that time when compared to other states, he stated. Considering the arguments, the high court bench headed by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Ravi Cheemalapati directed SECI to submit an affidavit with details of prices at which it had made agreements with other states at the time of entering into the agreement with AP.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh Discoms seek ERC nod to collect true-up charges of ₹12,771 cr
The three power distribution companies (discoms) in the state have filed a petition before Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC), seeking permission to collect ₹12,771 crore from consumers through true-up charges . The ERC released the notification asking the public to file their objections/suggestions on the petitions filed by the discoms. The Left parties have demanded that the govt immediately withdraw the proposal. According to the affidavit, SPDCL wants to collect ₹3,046 crore through true-up charges to recover the actual costs of power supplied from 2019 to 2024. APEPDCL has urged the commission to allow it to collect ₹7,790 crore, while APCPDCL wants to recover ₹1,935 crore. The discoms have been collecting fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) charges for the past three years. Recently, the distribution companies filed a petition before APERC seeking ratification of its decision to collect 40 paise per unit, which has been continuing for the past six months. While APERC, in Nov 2024, allowed the discoms to recover ₹9,412 crore through FPPCA charges , the discoms levied nearly ₹14,000 crore burden on the consumers in the last one year, citing old dues. However, energy minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar has made it clear that the govt has no plans to increase power tariff , adding that power tariff may be reduced in the coming days. He blamed the previous YSRCP govt for the discoms' move to collect the true-up and FPPCA charges. "The mismanagement and irregularities during the YSRCP regime forced discoms to recover the true-up and FPPCA charges from the consumer. The discoms have filed petitions to collect the dues pertaining to the YSRCP regime," Gottipati claimed. Dismissing the minister's allegations, CPI-M leaders V Srinivasa Rao and Ch Baburao said blaming the previous regime is only a "cover-up act" by the TDP-led NDA govt, and warned of agitations across the state if the discoms did not withdraw the true-up charges notice.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AP Discoms seek ERC nod to collect true-up charges of Rs 12,771 cr
Vijayawada: The three power distribution companies (discoms) in the state have filed a petition before Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC), seeking permission to collect Rs 12,771 crore from consumers through true-up charges. The ERC released the notification asking the public to file their objections/suggestions on the petitions filed by the discoms. The Left parties have demanded that the govt immediately withdraw the proposal. According to the affidavit, SPDCL wants to collect Rs 3,046 crore through true-up charges to recover the actual costs of power supplied from 2019 to 2024. APEPDCL has urged the commission to allow it to collect Rs 7,790 crore, while APCPDCL wants to recover Rs 1,935 crore. The discoms have been collecting fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) charges for the past three years. Recently, the distribution companies filed a petition before APERC seeking ratification of its decision to collect 40 paise per unit, which has been continuing for the past six months. While APERC, in Nov 2024, allowed the discoms to recover Rs 9,412 crore through FPPCA charges, the discoms levied nearly Rs 14,000 crore burden on the consumers in the last one year, citing old dues. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Even Beautiful Women Have Their 'Oops' Moments Read More Undo However, energy minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar has made it clear that the govt has no plans to increase power tariff, adding that power tariff may be reduced in the coming days. He blamed the previous YSRCP govt for the discoms' move to collect the true-up and FPPCA charges. "The mismanagement and irregularities during the YSRCP regime forced discoms to recover the true-up and FPPCA charges from the consumer. The discoms have filed petitions to collect the dues pertaining to the YSRCP regime," Gottipati claimed. Dismissing the minister's allegations, CPI-M leaders V Srinivasa Rao and Ch Baburao said blaming the previous regime is only a "cover-up act" by the TDP-led NDA govt, and warned of agitations across the state if the discoms did not withdraw the true-up charges notice.
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Discoms in AP spend nearly ₹3,500 cr on short-term power procurement from exchanges
High-volume power purchases from exchanges by the distribution companies (DISCOMs) are placing a significant financial burden on consumers. In the last fiscal year, the DISCOMs spent nearly ₹3,500 crore on short-term power procurement from exchanges — exceeding limits set by the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC). Despite a surplus in installed power capacity, utilities are frequently shutting down state-run generation plants citing maintenance or technical issues — while resorting to costly exchange purchases. These short-term buys have escalated the sector's debts due to astronomical prices. Instead of making use of its own generation plants, the power utilities are often resorting to power purchases citing sudden demand increase or technical glitches in the operation of the plants. According to the affidavit filed with APERC, the power utilities disclosed that they purchased 5282 million units from the open market during 2024-25 financial year. This caused a massive burden as the procurement cost is around 6.78 per unit. The power utilities spent close to ₹3,580 crore exclusively for the purchase of power. The discoms have already collected ₹2787 crore from the power consumers on the pretext of FPPCA charges during the last fiscal and raised a request for collection of another ₹870 crore. In fact, the discoms revealed that they have purchased 8617 million units of power through short-term purchase during 2022-23. Surprisingly, APERC put a cap at 3675 million units for short-term purchases during 2022-23. However, the power utilities purchased 8617 million units at a cost of 9.62 per unit. The discoms spent close to ₹6670 crore for the purchases in a single fiscal year. Subsequently, the discoms simply transferred ₹6000 crore burden to the commoners in the name of FPPCA charges. The situation further deteriorated during 2023-24 when the discoms purchased a whopping 11,753 million units from the exchanges. "They have spent close to 8972 crore for power purchases from exchanges causing massive burden on the commoners," said CPM leader Ch Baburao. In fact, APERC allowed the discoms to purchase only 1551 million units. However, the power utilities purchase almost 10,000 million units over and above the cap fixed by the APERC. The discoms transferred nearly 9,412 crore burden to the commoners due to the short-term purchases. "The forecasted grid demand varies due to weather conditions and the forecasted generation vary due to outages of thermal generation or variation in renewable energy generation. In order to balance the load-generation on real time basis, the APDISCOMs overdraw/under draw from the grid. Also when there is shortfall in declared availability vis a vis the grid demand, DISCOMs are procuring shortfall from power markets, exchanges/e-bidding portal in order to ensure 24X7 power for all. A quantum of 5282.96 MU @ 6.79 per Unit was procured under short term/market. A quantum of 9 64.88 MU was sold through short term at a cost of 4.45 per unit," explained SPDCL Chief General Manager (CGM) V Sobha. CPDCL CGM K Venkata Krishna said that the availability of thermal stations decreased by 2056.56 MU(8.00 per cent) when compared to approved availability. Accordingly, the energy despatch from APGENCO thermal stations is also decreased by 1,490.75 MU than the approved quantum. He said that a quantum of 5282.96 MU @ 6.79 per Unit was procured under short term/market," said CGM.
